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Understanding 9/11Golden Axe
Emulation Item Preview
![[screenshot]](/serve/msdos_Golden_Axe_1990/Golden_Axe_1990_screenshot.gif)
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- Publication date
- 1990
- Item Size
- 1.9M
Also For
Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Android, Arcade, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Genesis, iPad, iPhone, Linux, Macintosh, PlayStation 3, SEGA Master System, TurboGrafx CD, Wii, Windows, WonderSwan Color, Xbox 360, ZX Spectrum
Developed by
Team Shinobi
Published by
SEGA of America, Inc.
Released
1990
Genre
Action
Gameplay
Beat 'em up / Brawler
Perspective
Side view
Visual
2D scrolling
Setting
Fantasy
Description
Golden Axe is an arcade beat-'em-up game that puts players in the shoes of one of three heroes, each with his own reason for trying to overthrow the evil rule of Death-Adder, who - along with his forces of darkness - kidnapped and imprisoned the King and his daughter and stole the legendary Golden Axe.
This is a horizontal fighting game, where you basically take one of the three characters (the barbarian Ax Battler, a dwarf named Gilius Thunderhead or the amazon Tyris Flare) and bash everything which stands between you and Death Adder himself. Each character has a special magical ability that can be charged by kicking small blue creatures that drop a potion. There is also a green variety off this creature that drops food that replenishes your health. Some enemies ride dragons and a scorpion like creature. The enemies can be knocked off and you can mount the creature yourself and attack the enemies with it.
The game allows to play up to two players on a same screen, however in the C64 version this option has not been implemented. C64 version was also stripped off in the other areas, such as: only one enemy can engage the player at a time or there are only two types of dragons instead of three.
From Mobygames.com. Original Entry
- Access-restricted-item
- true
- Addeddate
- 2014-12-28 09:54:28
- Emulator
- dosbox
- Emulator_ext
- zip
- Emulator_start
- GoldenAx/gold.exe
- Identifier
- msdos_Golden_Axe_1990
- Mobygames_also_for
- Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Android, Arcade, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Genesis, iPad, iPhone, Linux, Macintosh, PlayStation 3, SEGA Master System, TurboGrafx CD, Wii, Windows, WonderSwan Color, Xbox 360, ZX Spectrum
- Mobygames_developed_by
- Team Shinobi
- Mobygames_gameplay
- Beat 'em up / Brawler
- Mobygames_genre
- Action
- Mobygames_perspective
- Side view
- Mobygames_published_by
- SEGA of America, Inc.
- Mobygames_released
- 1990
- Mobygames_setting
- Fantasy
- Mobygames_visual
- 2D scrolling
- Scanner
- Internet Archive Python library 0.7.5
- Year
- 1990
comment
Reviews
(18)
Reviewer:
ad32rtf34
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
August 15, 2024
Subject: Select Sreen
Subject: Select Sreen
pressing 4 and 5 on the num pad, like a maniac for a few seconds, made me select my player and play the game!
good luck everyone!
good luck everyone!
Reviewer:
svinpole
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
January 11, 2024 (edited)
Subject: Instructions
Subject: Instructions
Ah, the nostalgia! This used to be one of my favourite DOS games back in the day! :D
Altough some of you already figured things out below, I couldn't ... refrain myself from typing this out.
---
Graphics seletion menu: It's the classic list of the ancient IBM PC/MS-DOS graphics card hardware (it wasn't just built into the motherboard in the olden days, even for 2D), with which the games' appearance differed drastically (some of them won't work here because they need a different DOSBox configuration).
256-color VGA is the one you would always want to pick, if you're a newbie to DOS gaming.
(Use the numbers on the top row of the keyboard, the numpad won't work here.)
Golden Axe autodetects the presence of the Adlib sound card, which makes the music sound mediocre. To change sound output hardware:
Quit the game to the DOS prompt (keep pressing ESC until you are at C:\GOLDENAX>)
Then type GOLD.EXE /PCSP and press Enter. This will make the game go with the sound on the internal PC beeper (although DOSBox routes it to your regular speakers).
Then get ready for punishment kids, that's how we really heard it back in the day! :D
Password entry screen: the "good ole" offline form of copy protection, where you had to look up and type in specific words from the printed manual that came with the game, to prove that you bought the game (as in physically, in box, with floppy disks, there was no Steam in 1990). The protection here is already cracked by the pirates, so you don't have to worry about it, type anything and it will let you in.
---
Arcade is the main story campaign. It also contains the 2 extra levels from the Genesis/MegaDrive port (as opposed to the shorter Arcade original).
Beginner mode gives you less enemies, and ends on level 3. It's more like a practice mode.
Duel mode with 1 player gives you an arena and a bunch of enemies to fight in multiple rounds. Then it ends with... let's just say, a programmer's joke.
For 2 player mode (not online, side-by-side), first you have to set it at the top of the main menu.
2 Player co-op play is in Arcade and Beginner modes. Although watch out for "friendly fire".
2 Player vesus play is in Duel mode.
For a little less difficulty, you might want to go to the options, and set the Life meter (more like health bar) from the default 3 to 5 points.
The character selection screen uses the player control, attack is select.
(after selecting the charaters, the emulation usually hangs for a little while, it seems DOSBox has a little problem performing the VGA color palette fade effect.)
Keyboard controls:
-Menus: Cursor keys, Enter, Esc
-Player 1: Cursor keys/Numpad directions for movement, numpad 5 to attack, numpad 0 to jump, Right Shift to invoke magic attack
-Player 2: WAXD moves, S attacks, Tab jumps, Left Shift magic-s
Mouse or (analog) joystick controls: Those can be set in the options menu. But they're horrible and really not recommended! May not even work here (depends on the DOSBox configuration).
Double press forward to run.
Attack while running to headbutt, also useful for getting over platform gaps.
Some special attack moves exist too but I don't remember them.
---
I think someone already told about the trick of playing with enemy sprites, by renaming some of the game files in DOS.
Another notable thing is with the weird scoring system:
https://dreamandfriends.com/2010/05/12/how-to-hate-golden-axe/
Altough some of you already figured things out below, I couldn't ... refrain myself from typing this out.
---
Graphics seletion menu: It's the classic list of the ancient IBM PC/MS-DOS graphics card hardware (it wasn't just built into the motherboard in the olden days, even for 2D), with which the games' appearance differed drastically (some of them won't work here because they need a different DOSBox configuration).
256-color VGA is the one you would always want to pick, if you're a newbie to DOS gaming.
(Use the numbers on the top row of the keyboard, the numpad won't work here.)
Golden Axe autodetects the presence of the Adlib sound card, which makes the music sound mediocre. To change sound output hardware:
Quit the game to the DOS prompt (keep pressing ESC until you are at C:\GOLDENAX>)
Then type GOLD.EXE /PCSP and press Enter. This will make the game go with the sound on the internal PC beeper (although DOSBox routes it to your regular speakers).
Then get ready for punishment kids, that's how we really heard it back in the day! :D
Password entry screen: the "good ole" offline form of copy protection, where you had to look up and type in specific words from the printed manual that came with the game, to prove that you bought the game (as in physically, in box, with floppy disks, there was no Steam in 1990). The protection here is already cracked by the pirates, so you don't have to worry about it, type anything and it will let you in.
---
Arcade is the main story campaign. It also contains the 2 extra levels from the Genesis/MegaDrive port (as opposed to the shorter Arcade original).
Beginner mode gives you less enemies, and ends on level 3. It's more like a practice mode.
Duel mode with 1 player gives you an arena and a bunch of enemies to fight in multiple rounds. Then it ends with... let's just say, a programmer's joke.
For 2 player mode (not online, side-by-side), first you have to set it at the top of the main menu.
2 Player co-op play is in Arcade and Beginner modes. Although watch out for "friendly fire".
2 Player vesus play is in Duel mode.
For a little less difficulty, you might want to go to the options, and set the Life meter (more like health bar) from the default 3 to 5 points.
The character selection screen uses the player control, attack is select.
(after selecting the charaters, the emulation usually hangs for a little while, it seems DOSBox has a little problem performing the VGA color palette fade effect.)
Keyboard controls:
-Menus: Cursor keys, Enter, Esc
-Player 1: Cursor keys/Numpad directions for movement, numpad 5 to attack, numpad 0 to jump, Right Shift to invoke magic attack
-Player 2: WAXD moves, S attacks, Tab jumps, Left Shift magic-s
Mouse or (analog) joystick controls: Those can be set in the options menu. But they're horrible and really not recommended! May not even work here (depends on the DOSBox configuration).
Double press forward to run.
Attack while running to headbutt, also useful for getting over platform gaps.
Some special attack moves exist too but I don't remember them.
---
I think someone already told about the trick of playing with enemy sprites, by renaming some of the game files in DOS.
Another notable thing is with the weird scoring system:
https://dreamandfriends.com/2010/05/12/how-to-hate-golden-axe/
Reviewer:
Materiaoscura
-
favorite -
January 12, 2021
Subject: Deluso
Subject: Deluso
Dopo aver scelto il personaggio da usare, non si avvia la partita. Qualcuno mi sa dire quale tasto bisogna premere per Invio ?
Reviewer:
lpnancybr
-
May 27, 2020
Subject: How to select someone
Subject: How to select someone
Can you guys tell me please how select the girl? Cannot select with any button....
Reviewer:
tashtai
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 3, 2018
Subject: 2nd player
Subject: 2nd player
1st player use WASD shift etc.
2nd use num. key pad...gg
2nd use num. key pad...gg
Reviewer:
Achaean
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
March 11, 2018
Subject: Good, but 2nd player controls?
Subject: Good, but 2nd player controls?
Excellent for 1 person!
Does someone knows which are the controls for the 2nd player?
Does someone knows which are the controls for the 2nd player?
Reviewer:
fran_martin
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
October 18, 2015
Subject: Great job!
Subject: Great job!
Great job!
Reviewer:
theadamesmith
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
January 13, 2015
Subject: Golden Axe - Game Info
Subject: Golden Axe - Game Info
Here are a few things I discovered:
COMMAND PROMPT:
Entering 1 - EGA 16 Colors: Faded color tonesand pixelated graphics, audio loads correctly.
Entering ... 2 - CGA 4 colors: Yellow/red/green graphics only, audio loads correctly.
Entering 3 - HGA: Video stays on the command prompt screen, game audio loads correctly.
Entering 4 - VGA 256 colors: Game video and audio loads correctly. Use this one.
Entering 5 - Tandy 16 colors: Clustered, unrecognizable graphics with pulsing blue and red characters.
PASSWORD
Type any word to get through the password request page.
CONTROLS
To change the control input use the down arrow key to navigate to Options. Hit Return. Go down to Player 1 Control or Player 2 Control and use the right arrow key to choose Keypad, Keyboard, Joystick 1, Joystick 2, or Mouse. Use the down arrow key to navigate to Exit and hit Return.
Keyboard allows you to rotate through the players using D and A. To select your player use the key S. Use the following keys to control your player in game:
W - Up
X - Down
A - Left
D - Right
S - Attack
Q - Diagonal (Up Left)
E - Diagonal (Up Right)
Z - Diagonal (Down Left)
C - Diagonal (Down Right)
Tab - Jump
Right Shift - Special Power
Tab + S - Jump Attack
Space Bar - Pause
Esc - Quit Option
Mouse will also allow you to control your players movements on a track pad by navigating left, right, up, and down with one finger.
Attack - Click the trackpad with one finger
Jump - Click the trackpad with two fingers
Right Shift - Special Power
Click with two fingers + click to the right with two fingers - Jump Attack
Slide one finger foward and click - Flying Jump Kick
Space Bar - Pause
Esc - Quit Option
Keypad would only allow cycling through the characters in the character selection screen with the arrow keys or \ key. No key would allow for character selection.
Joystick 1 & 2 allowed for no keys to work and characters freely rotated in the character selection screen.
CHANG AMOUNT OF PLAYERS
Use right arrow key to switch between 1 Player and 2 Player on the top of the Main Menu list.
LIFE METER
To increase your Life Meter go to Options and use the right arrow key to increase life from 3-5.
Special Powers:
Male Human Fighter - Fire Storm Barrage
Female Human Fighter - Fire Breathing Dragon
Dwarf Fighter - Three Lightening Bolts
GAME MODES
Arcade: traditional style game play
Beginner: easier traditional style game play
Duel: player versus increasingly challenging enemies in strength, power, and number in a closed environment.
NOTES:
On the modern keyboard such a a Mac Book Pro, it is difficult to navigate the player and attack using the WDXA and S configuration along with Tab to jump and Right Shift to use a special power. Using the mouse as a control option had more utility and functionality.
It is important to square up directly in front of enemies so that attacks are landing.
The flying jump kick is effective in dismount enemies from creatures they are riding, and is also one of the more effective attack actions to use in general when execute properly.
I was able to inadvertently flying kick once using the keyboard but was unable to replicate it. Much easier to execute using the mouse control.
COMMAND PROMPT:
Entering 1 - EGA 16 Colors: Faded color tonesand pixelated graphics, audio loads correctly.
Entering ... 2 - CGA 4 colors: Yellow/red/green graphics only, audio loads correctly.
Entering 3 - HGA: Video stays on the command prompt screen, game audio loads correctly.
Entering 4 - VGA 256 colors: Game video and audio loads correctly. Use this one.
Entering 5 - Tandy 16 colors: Clustered, unrecognizable graphics with pulsing blue and red characters.
PASSWORD
Type any word to get through the password request page.
CONTROLS
To change the control input use the down arrow key to navigate to Options. Hit Return. Go down to Player 1 Control or Player 2 Control and use the right arrow key to choose Keypad, Keyboard, Joystick 1, Joystick 2, or Mouse. Use the down arrow key to navigate to Exit and hit Return.
Keyboard allows you to rotate through the players using D and A. To select your player use the key S. Use the following keys to control your player in game:
W - Up
X - Down
A - Left
D - Right
S - Attack
Q - Diagonal (Up Left)
E - Diagonal (Up Right)
Z - Diagonal (Down Left)
C - Diagonal (Down Right)
Tab - Jump
Right Shift - Special Power
Tab + S - Jump Attack
Space Bar - Pause
Esc - Quit Option
Mouse will also allow you to control your players movements on a track pad by navigating left, right, up, and down with one finger.
Attack - Click the trackpad with one finger
Jump - Click the trackpad with two fingers
Right Shift - Special Power
Click with two fingers + click to the right with two fingers - Jump Attack
Slide one finger foward and click - Flying Jump Kick
Space Bar - Pause
Esc - Quit Option
Keypad would only allow cycling through the characters in the character selection screen with the arrow keys or \ key. No key would allow for character selection.
Joystick 1 & 2 allowed for no keys to work and characters freely rotated in the character selection screen.
CHANG AMOUNT OF PLAYERS
Use right arrow key to switch between 1 Player and 2 Player on the top of the Main Menu list.
LIFE METER
To increase your Life Meter go to Options and use the right arrow key to increase life from 3-5.
Special Powers:
Male Human Fighter - Fire Storm Barrage
Female Human Fighter - Fire Breathing Dragon
Dwarf Fighter - Three Lightening Bolts
GAME MODES
Arcade: traditional style game play
Beginner: easier traditional style game play
Duel: player versus increasingly challenging enemies in strength, power, and number in a closed environment.
NOTES:
On the modern keyboard such a a Mac Book Pro, it is difficult to navigate the player and attack using the WDXA and S configuration along with Tab to jump and Right Shift to use a special power. Using the mouse as a control option had more utility and functionality.
It is important to square up directly in front of enemies so that attacks are landing.
The flying jump kick is effective in dismount enemies from creatures they are riding, and is also one of the more effective attack actions to use in general when execute properly.
I was able to inadvertently flying kick once using the keyboard but was unable to replicate it. Much easier to execute using the mouse control.
Reviewer:
joe420
-
January 12, 2015
Subject: No numpad play?
Subject: No numpad play?
Is there a way for those of us without numpads (laptops) to play Golden Axe? Cannot get past the character selection screen! :(
Reviewer:
Berkan
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
January 10, 2015
Subject: Controls
Subject: Controls
Go to options and choose keyboard for control. Once that done, here are the controls;
w - up
x - down
a - left
d - right
s - attack
tab - jump
right ... shift - special power
I remember playing this game with a childhood friend. We had to pause every 10 min for toilet break because we were getting afraid and excited...
w - up
x - down
a - left
d - right
s - attack
tab - jump
right ... shift - special power
I remember playing this game with a childhood friend. We had to pause every 10 min for toilet break because we were getting afraid and excited...
Reviewer:
starless72
-
January 9, 2015
Subject: Numeric keypad workaround for MacBooks
Subject: Numeric keypad workaround for MacBooks
...
For MacBooks with no numeric keypads, you can assign keypad keycodes to other key combinations (e.g. fn+789uiojkl) using Karabiner: https://pqrs.org/osx/karabiner/
Reviewer:
lucygee
-
January 9, 2015
Subject: macbook - no numeric keypad
Subject: macbook - no numeric keypad
Anyone got a workaround for macbooks not having a numeric keypad?
Reviewer:
MEWALKE
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
January 9, 2015
Subject: Great throw back game!
Subject: Great throw back game!
Great game, brings back memories - although it was much better in the arcade.
For those of you complaining about not getting past the character selection ... screen, use the num pad insteadl. Arrow keys on numpad to rotate through the characters, and '5' on the numpad to select your character. Then use the numpad to play.
For those of you complaining about not getting past the character selection ... screen, use the num pad insteadl. Arrow keys on numpad to rotate through the characters, and '5' on the numpad to select your character. Then use the numpad to play.
Reviewer:
Dawnfirefeq
-
favorite -
January 9, 2015
Subject: Disappointed
Subject: Disappointed
I wanted this game to work more than any, but the game won't get past the character selection screen.
Reviewer:
tassoart
-
favorite -
January 8, 2015
Subject: Was really excited to play this game but...
Subject: Was really excited to play this game but...
unfortunately there's no way to get past the character selection screen.
Reviewer:
spankytwo
-
January 7, 2015 (edited)
Subject: A better PDF for Golden Axe
Subject: A better PDF for Golden Axe
http://www.digitpress.com/library/manuals/genesis/golden%20axe.pdf for the words.
However as the reviewer below said this http://www.starehry.eu/dow ... nload/action/docs/Golden.Axe-Manual.pdf SHOULD help unless they like to change the address often.
Or Try. http://www.oldgames.sk/en/game/golden-axe/download/8335/
The other link sends you to a website where I couldn't find the game manual.
However as the reviewer below said this http://www.starehry.eu/dow ... nload/action/docs/Golden.Axe-Manual.pdf SHOULD help unless they like to change the address often.
Or Try. http://www.oldgames.sk/en/game/golden-axe/download/8335/
The other link sends you to a website where I couldn't find the game manual.
Reviewer:
zpoinx
-
favoritefavoritefavorite -
January 7, 2015
Subject: How to get past DRM
Subject: How to get past DRM
Write absolutely anything. It'll accept it.
Reviewer:
gcarbone
-
January 7, 2015
Subject: Link for Golden Axe manual
Subject: Link for Golden Axe manual
...
To get answers to DRM questions, here is the link to a pdf version of the manual that worked for me
http://www.starehry.eu/download/action/docs/Golden.Axe-Manual.pdf
http://www.starehry.eu/download/action/docs/Golden.Axe-Manual.pdf
There are 18 reviews for this item. .
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